Romans 3:18

Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Roman church, concluding a catalog of human sinfulness to demonstrate that all people stand guilty before God. He places this declaration immediately after describing the ungodly as lacking the way of peace and right before noting that the law silences every mouth.

The words — The Greek phrase ἀπὲναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν (apenanti tōn ophthalmōn) literally means “before the eyes.” Combined with οὐκ ἔστιν φόβος θεοῦ (ouk estin phobos theou), it asserts a complete absence of reverence for God in human perception.

The thread — This absence of reverence echoes the opening indictment in Psalms 36:1 and contrasts with the commanded reverence in Proverbs 23:17 and Proverbs 16:6. The motif appears throughout Scripture as the defining mark of human rebellion against divine authority.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that unregenerate humanity lacks any conscious reverence for God, leaving no ground for self-justification. It asks the reader to acknowledge total accountability before God’s judgment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.